Gwyneth sends along this pic and notes…

I’ve noticed some of our pedestrian signal buttons have been moved a bit towards being more accessible … A good first step….

From the Decatur Minute…

As many are aware, bike and pedestrian access along the PATH trail along E. Howard has been rerouted for the last couple of months due to construction at the Trinity Triangle site.  At this time, the City of Decatur is pleased to announce that bike and pedestrian access will be restored to this corridor with a new crossing on E. Trinity Place.

Here’s how it works:  The new crossing is located between the construction site (west) and the triangle where N. Candler Street meets E. Howard (east). Look for the pedestrian crossing beacon and the street paint. Cyclists and pedestrians traveling east on the PATH  Trail or north across E. College Avenue may now cross E. Trinity Place at a new temporary crossing. Cyclists and pedestrians traveling west across E. Trinity Place may now safely make their way across E. College Avenue or west on the PATH Trail.

Be careful! The crossing is well marked, but since it is a new location a bit closer to the railroad crossing, all cyclists, pedestrians and motorists should exercise caution.

The Decatur Police Department and Public Works Department will monitor use of the crossing. Updates will be provided as the project continues. This bike and pedestrian access is considered temporary because use of the new sidewalk is subject to construction phasing at the Trinity Triangle site through 2015.

For more information contact  Design, Environment & Construction Division Director John Maximuk at .

Atlantans, why walk when you might die?  (Kudos to anyone who gets the subtle Mary Chapin Carpenter play-on-words)

From New York City’s Pedestrian Safety Study Action Plan (pdf)

More fun facts from the New York City study:

• HOW do these pedestrian accidents occur? 36% driver inattention, 27% drivers fail to yield, 27% pedestrians crossing with signal, 20% pedestrians crossing against signal
• WHO is involved? Seniors make up 38% of pedestrian fatalities.  80% of pedestrian crashes involve male drivers.
• WHEN are pedestrian/driver collisions most deadly? From 3a-6a.

h/t: GOOD

UPDATE: Andisheh followed up with DPD and the resident.  Here’s his update:

Reed Thodeson and his dog Madchen were victims of a hit-and-run at 5:40PM on Tuesday, May 12 as they were crossing S. Candler street in Decatur. Thodeson is okay, but Madchen died last weekend after surgery.

If you see a purple pickup truck with dark, tinted windows, and custom chrome bumpers, please contact Officer Bellis at the Decatur Police Department at 404-373-6551. The case# 0902316.

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Andisheh, who has many of his own war stories about attempting to cross W. Howard at Adair, forwards a Fox5 story that appeared about a week ago, about a man and his dog who were hit by a car while trying to cross S. Candler near the former Victory Vintage Home.  Both are still alive, but the dog was literally run over and had to have one of her rear legs amputated.

From what I can tell from the video, the driver was turning left off E. College onto S. Candler when he/she struck Reed Thodeson and his dog Madchen.  The driver didn’t stop.  Luckily, a good Samaritan did.

Be vigilant out there folks.